Container ship



3 sheets-sheet 1 II I l x www@ W. P. KELLETT CONTANER SHIP Filed May 17,1940 June 30 1942,

Jne 30, 1942. w.` P. KELLETT CONTAINER SHIP Filed May 17, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30, 1942..` w. P. `KELLETT -GONTAINERS1111? FiledMay 17,Y 1940 l s Sheets-sheet s m/enfor "IIA VIII IIIIII @la 1Y0.

Patented June 30, 1942 z,2's7,ss6 CONTAINER sini William P.'Kellett, NewYork, N. Y.

Application May 17, 1940, Serial No. 335,697

i 9 Claims.

The principal objects of this invention are to v.greatly facilitate thetransport of freignt where .water-*borne carriers may be utilized and toprovide -an equipment which will permit oi tne maximum amount or goodsstorage capacity wnile enabling the handling or the goods containerslwith the minimum of cost.

Afurtner and extremely important object of thisinvention is to providewater-borne freight .transler equipment with 'the minimum or dead loador excess weight, thereby effecting material economy in operating cost.

A` still Iurtner ooJect is to obviate the losses due to unnecessarydemarrage and loss oi' operation or rolling stock.

l'he principali'eatures of the invention consist in -tne novelconstruction oi a stilp to accommodate the compact storage oi' wneellessgoods containers wnerein the decks are provided witn rows or rollersupports upon wnicn tile w'neelless goods containers may be operated andthe .arrangement or guideways and trolleys to engage therewith and to neconnected to tile contaiuers, sucn trolleys being operated bypowerdriven cables connected to said trolleys.

Further important features in tne construction or the snip comprise thearrangement or' locking Jacks permanently mounted on the snip decks andadapted to interlock witn tne inuividual containers to secure themagainst longitudinal lateral or tilting movement.

A still further feature or importance consists in the novel constructionof the containers and the means for lifting and lowering same wherelbyvery rapid, accurate and dependable connections may be made with thehoisting apparatus trat-ing the means for placingy the containers inposition. Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevationalview of the lowercorner portion of al containerfas` illustrated in Figure 3 showing thesupporting.

rollers. the locking jack and the hauling trolley for moving thecontainer over the deck. Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevationalview ofthe corner structure of the container and the pivotal locking jacks forrigidly holding the container in position.

Figure 6 is an enlarged end elevational view o f the container-movingtrolley showing the trolley guideway in section.

Figure 7 is an eniargedl'side elevational detail of tnecontainer-shifting trolley.

Figure 8 is `an enlarged diagrammatic plan view of the individualdriving means for operatiy ing the cailles for placing the containers inposition on the decks.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevational detail illustrating the preferredform of means for lifting the containers, the socket portion ofthecontainer being shown in section.

Figure 1U is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 9.

Figure l1 is a diagrammatic plan of a driven sheave for operating themeans for placing the containers on the decks of the ship.

In the transportation of freignt over long distances it nas for manyyears been found desirable to utilize the great bulk capacity of shiptransport Where such may be used as against overland transport, andenormous costs are involved in transferring goods from rail to ship `andship to rail, and it has been found desirable in certain places toactually trans-ship loaded trains by boat in order to erl`ect materialsaving in rail haulage.

Where such practices have been eiected it will be readily understoodthat very considerable of a container arranged in position upon thevdeck ofthe container ship and illustrating the lower supporting. meansfor shiftingthe container.. the `locking means for kholding it inposition and the guided power-operated means forl moving the containerover the deck.

' Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational View 55 waste has occurred incarrying railway rolling stock by ship transport. i l e The presentinvention has been devised for the purpose of accommodating the maximumquantity of goods from rail transport 'without' this extension' Thecontainer I is of a suitable box-like form having a rigid base structure2 which is provided with longitudinal skids or runners 3 arrangedadjacent to either side which are adapted to engage and rest uponrollers 4 which are arranged in longitudinal rows on the several decksof the ship which is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the rollers beingsupported between suitable brackets, -here shown in the form' of -angleiron supports 5. i i

Midway between each pair of longitudinal rows of the rollers 4 arearranged longitudinal guide- A ways 6 which are preferably fabricated byspaced-apart angle irons 1 and Z bars 8. These I structures areparticularly illustrated nFgures 3 and 6.

The upright inner legs each of the guideways- 6 is arranged a trolley I0whichis provided with paired rollers I I arranged at either side of theguideway @0 roll between-the deck surface andthehorizontal portion ofthe Z bars.4

9 of the Zebars -8' arev spaced apart and form an open channel. Within YThecentrzlportion -I2 of the trolley ex-` tends upwardly through'thechannel between the u spaced-.apart upright flanges of the Z- bars andI2 is provided with an open'vertical slot I3 adapted to receive a'loopeddraw bar I4 which is mounted at each end of the containers I.` A'linkpin' I5 extendsthrough a suitable transverse hole in the slotted upperend of the trolley to engage the looped drawbar and lock it to thetr.olley,so that the container may be pushedto lthe required location onthe ships deck or pulled to the hatchway in the `loading "or unloadingoperations.

Each end of the trolley is providedvwith a pair of lugs lbetween which acable end I1 is adapted to be inserted and vto be fastened by a suitablecoupling pin I8. l u a,

The cables for operating the trolleys I0 extend `longitudinally of theguideways formed'by the angles 1 and Z-bars 8, the ends being connectedto the opposite ends of the trolleys and the looped the draft couplingI4 in the .manner described and, by the operation of the motor drive ofthe sheave at the far end, the trolley will be drawn along in itsguideway so as to pushthe container in a direct line to the position itis to occupy when the ship is-loaded. The skids 3 on the underside ofthe container will be retained in alignment with the rows of rollers 4and the container will move smoothly `4to itsvrequired position. f i

Each of the containers is preferably'provided i with a recessed cornerstructure at each cornerof its under or b ase structure andwithinsuchrecesses are arranged the locking sockets -2.6-which. areoisubstantially bell shape vconstruction and open at one side.

f Mounted on `the deck in a position to register with the socketed endsof the containers with thev various containers arranged in closelyassembled -relation are thelocking jacks 21;- :Thesegare formedof rigidend brackets-28 rigidlysecuredto. lthe deck between: whichis pivotallymounted Athe swinging arm- 29 which --is adapted 'to swing upv "into therecessed portionv 2,5 `of the: containers.:y

This swinging'arm carries a threaded jack-v screw 30 which has abevelled end 3l backedby aange 32; the bevelledendbeingadaptedpto.beiseatediin extremities of the lengths of cable extendaround.

sheaves I9 and 20. Thesheaves 2 0 are prefer- .ably mounted inbracketson the deck andthese will be detachably secured so that when ahatch-f way cover is to be removed the sheave I9 may be detached oruncoupled from its mooring to the deck and 'the looped cable maybe drawnback clear of the cover to'allow the coverl to 'beremoved, or it maybe'desired to have the sheaves arranged in iixed positions and when itis desired to clear the cable from the hatch cover it will be merelynecessary to withdraw one of the anchor pins I8 connecting the trolleytothe cable end, and the loose end vof the cable may then be drawnthrough the sheaves and pulled clear of the hatch cover.

It will be readily appreciated that when loading and a container hasbeen placed uponV the longitudinal,

the.v socket member 26 by .the turning of'thejack, screw which :is:provided .with-a. turning nhandle'v33. .f Y ,-1

When the containers arein position these jack vscrews are swung upwardlyand then operatedto lock'securely in the .socket member, 26sothatfthecontainers are locked securely infposition against lateral or Ltippingmovement. These are arranged on the decks in such ya manner `as-:toenable the containers ybeinghoused inA close associated relation asdiagrammaticallyr illustra-ted in Figures ll and2, and-.it will bereadily Iappreciated that .with such -an arrangement of containerstructure-and.; deck equipment-for. handling andlocking. the. containers:in position the 'maximum amount of transportable goeds may be-housed ina verysafeandre-rlective inanner.- l Y `It=is preferablel toprovidespecic means for =the 'raising and lowering oi. the containers.'and,

as illustrated in Figure 3, the containers are providedwith hookstructures 34 atthe top side which may receive slings, but the preferredconstruction for raising and :lowering iisl illustratedVparticularlyinFigures 9 and 10, andthe base structureis. here formedVwith blocks 34 having horizontal recesses V35 thereinA which may be ofrectangular'vorm or otherwise.

The recesses 35 are adapted toy receivey pins.

which rare hingedly mounted in the' clevis mem- 1 pended from aspreaderbers 31 secured toshort 'cable lengths'138-sus'- member 39 vforming partof the slingsM), as illustrated particularly' in lFigure 1, where'acontainer is shown suspended in a sling from th hoisting device .ii-.

hatch cover of the deck in proper alignment withthe cable guideway'thetrolley may be coupled to Byvrneans vof this device the 'spreadercarried in A'theusling is swung.'y over'th containerto be lifted and thepins'36 are 'simply inserted into `the recesses .35. in't'hecontainersand a lock'pin 42 isplaced in position extending 'through a pair'loflugs arranged one at each "side.ofthefrecessi 35,:passing through ahole in thepin. .Tl'iislock pin' merely ,prevents the carrying pinirontbe- -in'gf-accidentally withdrawn. The carryingpi'n's are directly.suspendedfrom the slingy spregarierA and carrythe containers to thedesired position,

then by merely drawing the lock pins and pulli ing thelift-ing ypins.out the .container is free.

It win be understood that.' 'the .container can so .that fthe` .leastpossible effort .is required and the 'least amount of time will be'expended in trans-shipping the containers, which of' course areV loadedwith the goodsv to vbe transported at theirrpoint of origin.

The container method ofltransport isv extremelymobile.14 A(.'zfoodsv maybe packed directly in a warehouse; y The container'may be rolled orskidded veither directly on to a lrailway car or on to a truckanddelivered, to afrallway ca r, being locked thereon by meanssimilar'tothe jacksherein described and transported to the point of contact with awater borne carrier. The containers are merely unlocked from decks ofthe cars or trucks, ll-fted on to the shipand deposited by means of thehoisting equipment in whatever position they are required to be stored.They are drawn by means of the mobile cable equipment described over therollers mounted on the decks and guided by means of the slotted guidemember and then securely locked in position where they are held from'movement throughout the voyage, and on arrival at the port ofdestination the containers are then moved to the hatches by the movingcable equipment and again lifted and placed upon wheel transports formovement to their final destination.

The equipment described is extremely simple and is of such a ruggednature as to withstand considerable abuse. There will undoubtedly be agreat saving in labour in the handling of these containers as againstthe handling of railway cars. There will be an enormous saving intransport costs of dead loads, andan enormous increase of the pay loadof the ships will be effected.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A container ship having a plurality of decks each provided withparallelly arranged longitudinal guide channels on the upper surface,guide means operating in said guide channels, rows of rollers arrangedon said decks either side of said channels, cables arranged in saidchannels and operatively connected to said guide means therein,containers arranged to be moved over the rollers, installed on saiddecksl and means forming a detachable push-pull connection selectivelybetween either end of the container and said guide means. 2. A containership having arranged on each of its decks a plurality of parallellyspaced longitudinally slotted guides, wheeled trolleys movable withinsaid guides each having a rigid upi jecting portion of each of saidtrolleys with the draft coupling at either end of the container in apush-pull connection.

3. A container ship of the type adapted for the accommodation of goodscontainers on the decks, guide meansbeing arranged to direct thecontainers into position on the various decks together with actuatingmeansfor moving the containers along the guide means, characterized inthat said guide means comprises a plurality of parallelly spaced guidesmounted directly on the decks each formed with inwardly turned andupwardly' extending flanges spacedl above the deck surface andpresenting therebetween a central'longitudinalslot, said actuating meanscomprising trolleys supported on deck-engaging wheels-"aty either vsideofthe central slot within said' guides. "and having extensionsprojecting upwardly through saidslots, cables slidably arranged insaidguidesand having the ends thereof connected to said trolleys, meansarranged at the endsvof said guides' forV guiding said cables,containers having draft connections at the ends adapted toengage the'upstanding ,members of said trolleys tofbe'pr'o'pelled thereby, meansform#u ing rolling supports for said containers, and

means for locking said containers ,'infflxed positions inrelation to thedecks.

j `4. A` container ship `of'- the ,type adapted for 'the'accommodation-of goods containerson .the t 5. A container ship of thetype adapted for the accommodation of goods containers on the decks,guide means being arranged to direct the containers into position on thevarious decks together with actuating means for moving the containersalong the guide means, characterized in that said guide means comprisesa plurality of parallelly arranged longitudinal guideways on the decks,rows of roller supports arranged on said decks either side of saidguideways, jack members pivotally mounted on the decks arranged ingroups of four adapted to engage the four corners of the containers andto be inter- 'y locked therewith, and means operating in said guidewaysfor moving the containers along the guideways in either directionlongitudinally of the ship.

6. A container ship having a plurality of parallelly' arrangedlongitudinally slotted guideways mounted directly on the upper surfaceof the decks, sheaves mounted on vertical axes arranged at either end ofsaid guideways, cables extending around said sheaves and resting on theiioor surface of the decks and having a portion thereof enclosed withinsaid guideways. roll-v Y er trolleys mounted within said guideways forrolling contact with the deck surface, and con'- tainers having draftconnections at either end adapted to engag said trolleys which are movedy thereby' longitudinally of the ship.

7 A container ship having hatchways leading to the several decks,slotted guideways extending from said hatchways longitudinally of thedecks, driving 4cables arranged within said guideways and extendingacross the hatch opening, sheaves arranged at the farsi-de of' saidAhatchways to guide said cables, sheaves arranged at the opposite endsof said guideways and power-driven to operate said cables, trolleysslidably mounted in said guideways, and containers having a centrallyarranged draft rigging at each end to engage said trolleys.

8. In a container ship of the container-carrying type having guideways,characterized in that said guideways comprise spaced-apart angle ironssecured directly to the upper surface-of the decks, and Z-bars securedto said angle irons having their inner ilanges spaced apart forming alongitudinal slot, trolleys arranged to travelin said guideways havingrollersriding directly on the deck surface land having a central portionextending upwardly through the slotspace between the Z-bars, .andcontainers having a draft rigging extending from each end adapted toengage the upstanding portion of said trolleys.V

9. A container ship having in combination, a hatchway extending fromside-to-side and communicating with the various deck levels, means onthe upper side of each deck extending both fore and aft directly fromthe hatchway for guiding ha plurality'of transversely spaced rovm ofcontainers longitudinally over the deck sur-v face, and'means'forpushing Vand pullingv container's from' any point intermediate ofthewidth of the ship ina longitudinal direction 'directly to or from saidhatchway,"whe`reby' transverse shifting of the containers Withintheshipinterior is obviated, said means for pushing and pull-l ing saidcontainersto andv from said hatchway.

including cables extending' across said natchway and detachabjlyengageable with containers for-'- Wardly fandrearwardly of the hatchwayselectively .for 'both` push-pull operation of the I containerand'beingv retractible to clear the hatch.

wayganfd cableoperating means on each deck arrangedatone side oi'saidhatchway.;

Y, P; KELLETT.:

